The survey question: What two strategies should COPA National pursue to increase its membership?
Seventy per cent of COPA members identified that COPA should advertise and promote itself more, followed by keeping costs down and lobby/be more visible.
Survey comments from members suggested attracting youth by providing discounts to new and student pilots or one-time free membership and collaborating more with flight schools and training centers. They also suggested developing programs to encourage students and middle-age people to consider flying as a hobby or career and by advertising outside of the typical market areas.

First Canadian to command International Space Station returns homeCBC NewsAstronaut Chris Hadfield, the first Canadian to command the International Space Station, has safely returned to Earth after almost five months in orbit. Hadfield, along with flight engineers American Tom Marshburn and Russian Roman Romanenko, returned aboard a Soyuz capsule. They landed under a large parachute in the flat steppes of Kazakhstan at 10:31 p.m. ET.

Northeast evolving into an airport cityCalgary HeraldVancouver has one and Toronto has one — does Calgary need one? The British Columbia and Ontario metropolises have an independent airport city. In Vancouver, it is called Richmond. In Toronto, it is Mississauga — but in Calgary, Alberta, it is currently simply the city’s northeast quadrant.

Edmonton International Airport unveils new towerEdmonton JournalThere's a vague resemblance between a space-age food processor and Edmonton International Airport's new central tower. Airport staff showed off the inside of the unconventional-looking tower, the new building is capped by a new and improved air traffic control room with plenty of bright office space underneath. Open since March, the new tower caps the airport's billion-dollar expansion, replacing old and leaky offices with bright space surrounded by a sculpted steel ribbon exterior that takes its cues not from the kitchen, but the winds whistling over the nearby prairies.

Air Canada, Airbus research biofuel optionsToronto StarImagine a day when a giant airplane takes off, powered by plant oils, spent cooking oil or just plain old garbage instead of traditional jet fuel. It may still be a way’s off before this new technology is cost-effective, but scientists and aviation experts are focused on finding alternatives that reduce the carbon footprint of air travel. Air Canada and Airbus announced Monday that they have commissioned a study by BioFuelNet Canada, a nonprofit research organization based at McGill University, to come up with possible sustainable fuels.

BEST PILOT SHOP IN CANADA!Who better to serve the needs of pilots than other pilots? Inspired by this thought, in 2009, two flight instructors founded UNIK Pilot Shop. UNIK Pilot Shop pledges to uphold the highest ethical standards. Knowing that our customers’ satisfaction is essential to our success, we take great care to understand our client’s needs and to supply them with quality products.

Airport funded for more upgradesYorkton NewsFifteen airports, including Yorkton's, have just been approved for grants through the Community Airport Partnership (CAP) program. For the third consecutive year, the government is providing $700,000 to CAP, which is designed to help offset costs for various upgrades and repairs.
Yorkton is receiving $150,000 for runway and taxiway repairs, drainage rehabilitation, fencing, apron and taxiway expansion.

Amateur airplane builders aren't deterred by fatal crashBaltimore SunCarl Kesselring's hobby of airplane building is increasingly shared by other enthusiasts as the number of amateur-built airplanes grows every year, according to the Experimental Aircraft Association. But such airplanes also make up a disproportionate share of general aviation accidents, including ones that end in fatalities — raising safety concerns. The Federal Aviation Administration is reviewing recommendations by the National Transportation Safety Board that call for more pilot training and safety improvements for amateur-built planes.

New fly-by-wire technology may help fuel efficiencyNational PostFuel represents the most volatile variable cost in the aviation industry. Also, emissions of carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides and particulate at high altitudes act as particularly potent greenhouse gases, and while improvements in engine design have reduced these emissions, the increase in air traffic more than outweighs this.

IAOPA e-News May 2013COPACOPA Does it, Do you? Pass on This Newsletter to Your Members COPA has recently updated their website and included a section that includes International Council of Aircraft Owner and Pilot Associations (IAOPA) monthly eNews for all members to see.

RC air show takes off from Stephenville this weekendThe Western StarHigh over the East Ramp of Stephenville airport a fighter plane can be seen circling against the morning sun.
Not an unusual sight over Stephenville airport since it was the former Harmon USAF airbase where fighters of all descriptions were commonplace as they came and went on their respective missions.
But wait — this one is bright red and has three wings on which the Iron Cross of the German Imperial Air Service is visible. It is a Fokker Dr I triplane, famous as a favourite plane of Manfred Von Richthofen — the Red Baron and his Flying Circus.